Corneal Endothelial Study in Patients With Myotonic Dystrophy

Abstract

Purpose: : To understand why patients with Myotonic Dystrophy (DM1) have thicker corneas compared to normal subjects.

Methods: : Corneal thickness and endothelial cells count and shape have been evaluated in 52 eyes of DM1 patients and 52 eyes of normal age and sex matched subjects.

Results: : DM1 patients, compared to the healthy subjects, showed thicker cornea (532.67 ± 37.57 µm vs. 513.73 ± 26.89 µm) (p=0.002). Cells count was not significantly different (2601.2 ±364.63 vs 2649.12 ± 362.71) (p=0.48), as well as polimegalism (AVG) (388.74 ± 54.53 vs 384.67 ± 51.82) (p=0.68). Only a significant difference in polimegathism (HEX) (64.44 ± 8.38 vs 61.12 ± 8.62) (p=0.04) was found.

Conclusions: : Our findings support the hypothesis that thicker corneas in patients with DM1 are due to increased stromal thickness and not to increased fluid accumulation caused by poor function of the endothelial cells.

Keywords: cornea: endothelium